Bench/Bar Speakers Talk of Courage, Independence

When investigators learned of a scheme of selling pardons cash — setting free some of the state's worst criminals — it set in motion a bold move by a small bipartisan group of Tennessee officials to swear in Governor-elect Lamar Alexander three days ahead of schedule. Author and political observer Keel Hunt took readers behind the scenes in this dramatic political transition in his well-received book, Coup. At the Bench/Bar session, he presented the story along with two key participants in the events of that day in 1979 — former U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Hal Hardin and former Tennessean publisher John Seigenthaler.

The second session featured former Mississippi Supreme Court Presiding Justice Oliver E Diaz Jr., who detailed attacks from special interest groups he suffered while on the court.

At the Bench/Bar Luncheon, Iowa Chief Justice Mark Cady told the audience that judges and lawyers need to stand up against challenges facing the courts today. Cady, who saw three of his colleagues fall in retention elections after the court ruled to allow same-sex marriages in Iowa, spoke of the importance of a fair and impartial judiciary and the courage necessary to sustain it.

Former Tennessean publisher John Seigenthaler (from left) with former U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Hal Hardin and author Keel Hunt.